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EP President Jerzy Buzek, along with other leading Members of the European Parliament, have written to the President of the International Ice Hockey Federation urging the Federation to suspend its 2014 World Ice Hockey Championship in Minsk Belarus until all political prisoners in Belarus are released:

European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek said:

"The behaviour of the Belarusian regime clearly disqualifies it from the privilege of holding a major sporting event such as the 2014 World Ice Hockey Championship.

We urge the International Hockey Federation to take appropriate action to ensure that Lukashenko does not receive the international reward or legitimacy which comes with hosting the 2014 Ice Hockey Championship until he releases all political prisoners. Belarus has been ruled by the brutal and undemocratic Lukashenko regime for almost two decades. The EU and the US have strongly condemned Lukashenko's actions. His regime arrested hundreds of peaceful demonstrators including presidential candidates, opposition leaders, journalists, civil society representatives as well as ordinary Belarusians. The 2014 ice hockey championships cannot be held in Belarus under these appalling conditions."